When Should a Singer Go to an ENT?

First, a little back story...

For two weeks in 2018, I lost the use of my right arm and was in the most acute pain I’d ever experienced. Two herniated discs in my neck severely impinged my nerves. 

I'll spare you all the details, but ultimately, I had double-disc replacement surgery on my cervical spine to avoid any permanent nerve damage.

The surgery was successful, but if I don't stay on top of my stress and exercise, I get a tight neck, shoulders, and tension headaches.

During a particularly stressful time, as in... my dad died, COVID numbers were super high, and I had a weeklong online vocal conference I was performing at in front of all my peers, I started experiencing some persistent vocal tension and fatigue. 

It scared me.  My voice felt really tight.  It was uncomfortable to sing or speak.  It was cracking, and it wasn't seeming to improve very quickly.

It occurred to me that it was coming from extrinsic muscle tension in my neck and shoulders.

Or, was it? 

I wondered if I possibly had an issue with my vocal folds that could be causing it.

So, I visited my own ENT for a vocal scope and examination.⁠

I wanted to know for certain the cause so that I could choose the best treatment plan and get feeling better again.

Vocal health is not something to be taken lightly. But when should a singer see an ENT?

ENT Vs Otolaryngologist Vs Laryngologist

First, let’s clarify what an ENT is.

An ENT, or an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor, is also called an otolaryngologist.  They are one and the same.

A laryngologist is an ENT doctor who subspecializes in laryngology.  They deal with the voice. 

So if you are a singer, or generally a voice user, you would want to see a board-certified laryngologist.

Reasons To See An ENT

If you’re having any of these symptoms, be PROACTIVE and go see an ENT as soon as you can:

• Changes in the voice or hoarseness that persist for more than 2 weeks.
• Sudden loss of voice or other change, especially during a performance or voice use
• Pain with voice use
• Something just doesn’t feel right. 

But don’t just wait for the injury to happen!

In a perfect world, singers would get an annual exam from a laryngologist, even when they feel totally healthy. Visit your ENT for PREVENTIVE reasons so that you can:

• Establish a relationship with an ENT before the problems happen (You don’t want to have to scramble to find an ENT when you are in a vocal crisis!)
• Identify issues that may put you more at risk for vocal injury
• Discuss mild symptoms that you might be overlooking, but could be signs of early injury
• Learn more about your own instrument so you can be better at identifying your own problems 

As for my own experience, I was happy to learn that my vocal folds looked healthy.  No sign of injury.

My doctor recommended bodywork to help release some of the tension.

I took her advice. Even after one session of structural alignment work, I feel a difference.

I was better equipped to make a decision about what treatment to follow after seeing my ENT.  Otherwise, I’d still be worrying about it, and I wouldn’t be getting anywhere but worse. 

Going to an ENT to get a vocal exam might seem a little scary, especially if you’ve never done it. 

But, it’s important to conquer that fear. 

I hope you found this helpful.  Please share your questions or comments below!